Vacation is always too short

Once again, I wind up waiting awake as my vacation ends.  I feel like it went too quickly, that I wasted too much of it, that I wish I had one more day with my kids.

Thankfully, I have two more days when this hit me this year.

Tomorrow we have more fun...

Thus Endeth the Lesson

I just now finished the training material for the EMCTA exam tomorrow afternoon.  I'll spend the morning reviewing and taking the EMC practice exams. 

Wish me luck...

What I'm up to

I started in on a new EMC certification, the EMC Backup Recovery Technology Architect.  You can read my narrations here.

More to come, but not right now...

Suburban: 3, Greg 2 - Game Over

Well, I reassembled the Suburban and fired it up.  I was ecstatic that it started and I drove it for the first time in months.  My heart sank as it lost power after about 15 minutes and I could almost not get it up to 30 miles an hour. 

I did a compression test.  No compression on cylinders 4 or 6.  All others appeared fine, so I tore into it again.  I pulled the valve cover off the passenger side and adjusted the valves.

No compression.

A quick phone call to my good friend Mike, and he confirmed what I feared.  Most likely when I over-tightened the rockers on the initial reassembly, the valves bent.  To repair this will require going even deeper into the engine, pulling the heads and resurfacing them.  Then, we hope there are no holes in the cylinders.  It's more than I'm up for, and I'm a little heartbroken and a little p***ed off.

Beaten by a $1500 truck...

Shucks...

Success

Now we'll get it timed and see if the knock is actually fixed.  I started this in May.

Gee, it will be nice to have this done.

About to try starting the truck

...again...had it down to the valley, and now I'm bringin' 'er out.  I'm a little anxious and hope to report success in a couple hours.

Just want to play

and not be working on this truck anymore.  Confound it, anyhow...

What you don't want pushrods to look like

Poop

Mission: Running Truck

The truck needs to have the lash adjusted.  I followed the Chilton's manual that said to tighten the rockers to 32 ft/pounds, but have since come to the conclusion that either I'm reading that wrong or the manual is unclear.  Either way, thanks to friends who have been here before I'm on the track again.

I took a couple days off work to get this project finished over the holiday weekend.  I just can't find time during my normal life, so now I'll burn a couple days of PTO and get it done.

My first step is to get the valve covers off again.  I was afraid it woe require tearing everything down to the manifold off, which would be a couple hours for a guy like me.  I have not been looking forward to it and procrastinating.

But I started today, and with some cautiously applied pressure and removal of a few wires, I got he covers off in 30 mi utes this morning.

Now to play some laser tag with friends and get back to it in a couple hours.  It's not often I over-estimate time for auto repairs and I'm grateful for the small mercies I receive like today.

How well they understand

Jadyn:  What does chaos mean?

Jeremiah:  It's like a rampage of sin.

No rest for the procrastinator

I've been planning to retake my Cisco Certified Network Associate exam for a few months.  The exam I passed before retires this September, so to keep the review to a minimum I'm working to get it done before then.

I've put it off long enough and the test is scheduled. 

Now I'm studying like crazy to be ready, so the truck gets put on hold.  Music gets put on hold.  Everything gets put on hold.  Every time this happens I resolve to be more dilligent in my skills maintenance, and every time I wait until I have to panic to get anything accomplished.  This appears to be a character flaw.

At any rate, check out my facebook page for announcements of upcoming gigs, who I'm playing with and where to find me next.  The next performance will be in Becker with Green Light Night, August 16th.  I believe this is a private party, but if you get in touch with me I'm sure I can arrange a guest list for your attendance.  Maybe some of my Twin Cities friends would like to make the shorter trip?

More thoughts as they come, otherwise check out my networking blog for the only thing I'm currently thinking about...

So doggone close...

May 10, 2013 I tore apart my 1990 Suburban to replace the lifters.  It's been a challenge all along, but I got it back together tonight.  Two and a half months of work (well, OK, maybe more like a week of work stretched out over two and a half very busy months) and I sat behind the wheel of the truck.

I turned the key.  The motor turned...

...and would not start...

Here's where it was tore down to, and quite frankly the fact that *anything* happened when I turned that key is encouraging.  I'm guessing I've got a timing problem now.  Not bad for a network nerd, if I do say so myself.

Back at the geek stuff

Well, I keep intending to post information about life and thoughts about it and all the other musings I typically generate that I think someone should hear.  I assure you, I have more thoughts than have made it to this blog for quite some time.

Anyhow, the majority of my blogging has been at my "Greg and the Network" blog lately as I prepare to retake my CCNA.  I'm reviewing all my CCNA material and brushing up on the finer points of all sorts of geeky stuff for those who are interested.

Other than that, we're alive and well.  Having just passed 13 years of wedded bliss, we are busy enjoying summer and all that goes with it.  I expect to blog more soon, since summer in Minnesota really only lasts a few weeks anyhow.

Also wanted to make sure you all know that "Green Light Night" is performing on September 21 at O'Brien's Pub in Rice, MN.  I hope to see everyone there.

It's hard sometimes

Sometimes, I look around and think of all the people I've hurt in the past 40 years. I wonder what kind of damage to their lives I've caused, what kind of havoc I've wreaked, whether or not any one even remembers or cares at this point. I don't know.

The sad thing is, I've most likely forgotten more hideous things that I have done to others than most people will ever do their whole lives. Sometimes I remember and get to go back and try to ask forgiveness - "Forgive me for treating you like nothing," or "forgive me for causing you pain." "Forgive me for taking advantage of you," or maybe "forgive me for not caring like I should have."

So, for those out there somewhere I can't recall and for those I've just never had the courage to tell, "I'm sorry. I wish I could change it, but I pray you would be healed and forgive me."

Resolved to do better

I'm tired of always working hard so that I can work harder.  I'm always so far behind that I may never catch up.  When I go on "vacation" I rarely go far enough to unplug from my cell phone, email and all the emergencies that creep up.  My family waits as I "clean up just one more thing."

My family always seems to have to wait...

But as I sit and watch the rain put out my campfire, I am resolved to start over and do better.  No more will they - the most important - wait for the lesser.  I work more than my share Monday through Friday, and I do it gladly to earn our income.  But no more will they wait and give up the few hours we have together.

I'll do better...